We race towards the Father.
1 Corinthians 9:24-27 "Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever."

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Tuesday, August 14, 2012

(It's been months. I've been away at camp and all. While I was there, I felt like I almost lost my knack for writing. This post took forever because it felt really...well, forced. Hopefully I'll get into the swing of it again. I miss this place.)

I know I've read this Bible verse many times, but upon reading it yesterday, it took on a real meaning for me.

Luke 12:23 "Life is more than food, and the body is more than clothing."

It's sad to say this, but sometimes I feel like that is what people have reduced their lives to. Of course not JUST food and clothing, but overall, everything is about physical/material pleasure. Everything. If it's not about food plans or the latest clothing style, it's someone making arrangements to see the premier of the movie, it's someone going into debt to buy a car they don't really need, it's someone changing their hair every other week because they are discontent with what God's given them, it's someone playing video games incessantly, it's that unmarried couple that can't keep their hands off each other, or it's someone who sleeps all the time because it feels good.

Is it just me or is this "physical and material things are what we live for" problem a running trend? I notice it everywhere in the world, but honestly, I'm seeing it in the Christian community as well. In fact, Christians are often just as bad.

Watch this video real quick. Yes, yes, yes. It's a little extreme, but it does have a point. I've never even seen Wally. Just this clip...

Like I said, extreme, right? The part I love is when the woman's computer thingy is broken and for the first time she looks around and is wondering where the heck she has been the whole time. I think we can learn so much from that. While we are involved and dwelling on the physical, we forget other things. In fact, it can blind us to what really matters. For example, that woman had no idea what was going on around her, then she came to her senses finally. Same thing. If we are caught up in the material, we can be completely blind to the spiritual needs of other people or even the state of our economy.

So, am I claiming to never become distracted by "stuff?" Absolutely not. I need a car pretty badly and I've been letting that one stress me out pretty bad. But, while I'm stressing, I'm missing opportunities to pray and be glad in the Lord.

29 “And don’t be concerned about what to eat and what to drink. Don’t worry about such things.30 These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers all over the world, but your Father already knows your needs.31 Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and he will give you everything you need. 32 So don’t be afraid, little flock. For it gives your Father great happiness to give you the Kingdom.

Wow. It gives our Father happiness to give us what we need. Earlier in the passage, it says that ravens neither sow nor reap and yet God feeds and clothes them! If He cares for ravens He will care even more for us!

Is this a reason to get OCD about possessions? No! It's a reason for us to never worry about them. Because God is pleased when HE provides us with what we need, but he is never glorified when we over indulge and take more than is healthy.

Proverbs 23:20-21 "Be not among drunkards or among gluttonous eaters of meat, for the
drunkard and the glutton will come to poverty, and slumber will clothe
them with rags."

When can we say we are gluttons? Well, I always refer to this verse...

1 Corinthians 6:12b "....I will not be mastered by anything."

That leads me to the question: What is mastering me? What do I worship? You know, the Bible says that our mouth will tell people what is in our hearts. If everything you talk about and spend your time on has to do with physical, earthly things, then examine your heart.

Are you worshiping the gifts, or the Giver?

James 1:17 "Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, in whom there is no variation or shifting shadow."

If you're worshiping the gifts, you need to remember where they come from and what their purpose is. John 10:10 says that Jesus came to earth so that we can have ABUNDANT life. But what gives that abundant life? Is it all the food, clothing and houses God has blessed us with? No.

Jesus.

If Christians go around trying to spread the Good News, but then are so dependent on their "stuff," then what kind of Gospel are we preaching? People want to be freed! We have been! We can live abundant life without any of the earth's treasures. Let's show the world how to be happy solely with Jesus Christ. Not be self-centered people who need their iphones to make it through the day. Our God is SO much bigger than that.

Isn't He?

Now prove it! Fast from something you've been worshiping, encourage your brothers and sisters, surrender certain item obsessions, start spending more time in the Word than on FaceBook. Find abundant life in Jesus Christ.